North Korea has once again thrust itself into the global spotlight, this time with a dramatic leap in its missile technology that has regional neighbors and world powers on edge. On September 8, 2025, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un personally oversaw the ninth and final ground test of a new high-thrust solid-fuel engine, a milestone that insiders and experts alike are calling a watershed moment for the secretive nation’s nuclear program. The test, held at an undisclosed location and jointly conducted by North Korea’s Missile Administration and the Academy of Chemical Materials, showcased an engine built with advanced carbon fiber composite materials, achieving a maximum thrust of 1,971 kilonewtons—surpassing previous figures and signaling readiness for deployment in new intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim Jong Un described the successful development as “the success assuming the most strategic nature in the recent modernization of defense technology and heralds a significant change in expanding and strengthening the nuclear strategic forces” of North Korea. The timing of the announcement was no accident, coinciding with the country's September 9 Foundation Day and the 77th anniversary of the founding of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The message was clear: North Korea’s missile ambitions are not only undeterred but rapidly advancing, and the world should take note.
The implications of this technological leap are far-reaching. Solid-fuel missiles, unlike their liquid-fuel predecessors, can be launched within minutes, making them harder to detect and neutralize. As noted by CNN, “solid-fuel rockets are more stable, and they are easier to move before launch, which can be initiated in minutes, in comparison with liquid-fuel rockets that may require hours before launch, giving opponents time to detect and neutralize.” This shift in missile technology significantly enhances North Korea’s strategic flexibility and survivability in the event of a conflict.
The new engine is slated for use in the next-generation Hwasong-20 ICBM—a missile that, while yet to be test-flown, has already garnered significant attention. KCNA also reported that the engine is intended for the Hwasong-19, a missile that was successfully tested in October 2024 and demonstrated the capability to reach targets anywhere in the United States. The development of this engine, experts say, represents not just an incremental improvement but a genuine “strategic shift” for North Korea’s nuclear forces.
Lee Chun-geun, a propulsion system expert and guest researcher at South Korea's Science and Technology Policy Institute, pointed out to the Korea JoongAng Daily that “heat-resistant materials used in the nozzle throat of solid engines are the biggest bottleneck in developing high-thrust engines.” The fact that North Korea has managed to develop high-performance carbon fiber composites capable of withstanding extreme heat during extended burn times is, in his words, a clear signal of the regime’s acquisition of “an advanced, high-difficulty technology.”
Yet, Lee also cautioned against drawing sweeping conclusions from thrust data alone: “To accurately assess the engine’s performance, the duration of sustained thrust is critical.” Nonetheless, the completion of the ninth and final test—publicly declared as such by the Missile Administration—suggests that North Korea is ready to move beyond the laboratory and into operational deployment.
This technological achievement comes on the heels of Kim Jong Un’s high-profile diplomatic activity. Less than a week before the engine test, Kim attended a large-scale military parade in Beijing, standing shoulder to shoulder with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The symbolism was unmistakable: North Korea is reaffirming its strategic partnerships with China and Russia at a time when tensions with the West are running high. According to Mezha and CNN, Kim’s visit to Beijing and the subsequent test are seen as a coordinated effort to showcase North Korea’s growing military capabilities and its deepening ties with its two most powerful neighbors.
Notably, the official Chinese statements following the Kim-Xi summit made no mention of denuclearization—a marked departure from the rhetoric of previous meetings. As CNN highlighted, “for the first time at a Xi-Kim meeting, denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula was not mentioned in official Chinese statements— a noticeable break with the five previous meetings.” This omission has fueled speculation about Beijing’s willingness to pressure Pyongyang, or whether it is now more comfortable allowing North Korea’s nuclear status to persist as a counterweight to U.S. influence in the region.
Russia, too, has played a pivotal role in North Korea’s recent trajectory. As reported by AFP and The Hill, North Korea has sent thousands of troops and significant quantities of military equipment to Russia to assist in President Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine. In return, analysts speculate that Pyongyang is receiving Russian technical support for its missile and satellite programs—assistance that may be accelerating its transition from what some once called “crude” weapons to more “complete” and sophisticated systems.
Hong Min, a senior analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification, told AFP that North Korea’s use of carbon-fiber material in its ICBMs is a game-changer, potentially giving the missiles greater range by making them lighter and more thermally durable. “By securing both light weight and thermal durability, it demonstrates the domestic development of essential materials for the extended range,” he explained.
Kim Jong Un’s ambitions don’t stop at land-based ICBMs. Some experts, including those cited by Korea JoongAng Daily and AP, believe that the compact and lightweight nature of the new engine could eventually make it suitable for submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) or even for military reconnaissance satellite launch vehicles—areas of keen interest for the regime as it seeks to diversify and strengthen its deterrent.
Despite international condemnation and years of sanctions, North Korea has made it clear that it has no intention of abandoning its nuclear arsenal. In August, Pyongyang declared, “The North would remain unchanged in our stand not to abandon the nuclear weapons, the prestige and honor of the state.” This unwavering stance, combined with the rapid pace of technological advancement, has left the United States and its allies in a quandary. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Lee Sung Joon acknowledged the challenge, stating, “If they complete (a new ICBM), they will test it, and then we will need to make additional assessments of that.”
Looking ahead, speculation is rife that North Korea may conduct a test launch of the Hwasong-20 ICBM—or possibly a new SLBM—around October 10, 2025, the 80th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers’ Party. Such a move would not only demonstrate the regime’s technical prowess but also serve as a powerful signal to both domestic and international audiences that North Korea is a force to be reckoned with.
As the dust settles from the latest engine test, one thing is clear: North Korea’s missile program has entered a new era, and the world will be watching closely for what comes next.